Vinyl

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Record Cleaning Solution

 

The cheapest solution on eBay by a *very* large margin, and with universally positive feedback. 

I have used a VPI 16.5 record cleaning machine for many years; beforehand I had an Okki Nokki machine. 

It was around the time that my second bottle of “proprietary” fluid was running out that I realised this could be a very expensive cleaning option, so I started the quest to create my own cost-effective cleaning fluid.  My record collection runs to around 18,000 albums and 6,000 singles (see photo showing one third of my library) and I need to keep the playing surfaces scrupulously clean because I use an ELP-1 Laser Turntable to play the music.  The advantage of this deck is that there is no wear to records whatsoever; the two disadvantages are firstly that the deck is very expensive, and secondly that any specks of dust or dirt in the record grooves will sound like a scratch when picked up by the laser beam.  Lots of cleaning is thus required which would normally be at huge expense.  I’ve been making fluid for my own use ever since.

Following gentle pressure from many of my friends, I have finally bought high-purity ingredients in commercial quantities and produced 250ml (with spray), 500ml and 1 litre bottles of “ready-to-go” fluid.  While these ingredients are expensive compared to the less pure options, I consider that it is vitally important to leave minimal residue behind once the fluid has finally evaporated.  For anyone who is slightly sceptical, I suggest a 250ml bottle to start with, but I aim for you to get the best value with the larger bottle, which will clean 300-600 LPs.  You'll actually get closer to 1.1L in the bottle as I fill them to almost full.

You will also find that this fluid also works particularly well with a manual/vertical rotating type record cleaner, where the record is rotated in a small bath of fluid.  Surfactant ensures that the whole surface is wetted, and the alcohol content dramatically aids the drying process, such that the record can be put away much more quickly than with non-alcohol cleaners.  I have tried other compositions but this is the recipe to which I kept returning – because for all except 78rpm records it works best.  Please be aware that the alcohol content makes this fluid unsuitable for use on 78’s or shellac pressings.